RayVessel
Onboard marine vessel telemetry and dashboard system that unifies analog gauges, NMEA-2000 / NMEA-0183 data, and custom hardware into a single, modern user interface.
RayVessel is a complete vessel monitoring and visualization platform: custom Raspberry Pi HAT hardware for analog instrumentation, a Qt-based dashboard for real-time display, and deep integration with NMEA-2000 and NMEA-0183 data streams.
It’s designed for owners, integrators, and builders who want a flexible, software-defined dashboard that can evolve with their vessel—without being locked into a single vendor’s MFD.
RayVessel is currently used in lab and vessel environments and will be packaged for wider release alongside RayNmeaSimulator and related tools.
Overview & Goals
RayVessel grew out of a simple idea: “What if the vessel’s entire analog dashboard and NMEA backbone could be modeled, logged, and visualized like a modern control system?”
Instead of a single-purpose gauge cluster or closed MFD, RayVessel turns the Raspberry Pi 4/5 + custom HAT hardware into a central telemetry hub: reading legacy signals, ingesting NMEA-2000 / NMEA-0183, and presenting everything in a Qt / C++ user interface that you can evolve over time.
- Unify analog sensors, engine data, navigation, and tank levels in one UI.
- Provide clear, readable dashboards for real-world use on the water.
- Log data for post-trip review, troubleshooting, and performance insight.
- Play nicely with other tools such as RayNmeaSimulator and chartplotter software.
Onboard Hardware & Instrumentation
At the heart of RayVessel is a custom Raspberry Pi HAT designed specifically for marine dashboards and vessel wiring realities, and it integrates cleanly with off-the-shelf marine-friendly HATs.
Custom Vessel HAT & Power Stack
- Analog-to-digital interfaces for engine gauges and legacy senders.
- Support for oil pressure, coolant temperature, RPM, fuel level, and more.
- Digital inputs for alarms, switches, and status lines.
- Integrates well with the MacArthur HAT for clean 12 V vessel power and Raspberry Pi power management.
- Designed with marine wiring, noise, and serviceability in mind.
NMEA & Field Bus Integration
- Uses a Waveshark RS485/CAN HAT for robust physical interfaces to NMEA-2000 and NMEA-0183 style links.
- Interfaces to NMEA-2000 for engine, navigation, and environmental PGNs.
- Support for NMEA-0183 sentences where appropriate.
- Ability to correlate analog readings with NMEA data for validation.
- Planned integration paths with external chartplotters and marine networks.
Dashboard & Software Experience
The RayVessel user interface is built with Qt / C++, giving it the responsiveness and flexibility needed for real-time vessel data.
Configurable Dashboards
- Engine-focused views: RPM, temps, pressures, fuel rate, and alarms.
- Navigation views: SOG, COG, heading, XTE, and waypoint status.
- Tank & systems views: fuel, water, waste, and electrical state.
- Layouts tuned for readability in bright daylight and night operation.
Alarms, Logging & Trip Insight
- Threshold-based alarms for critical engine and system parameters.
- Data logging of key channels for later analysis.
- Trip-oriented statistics: distance, time underway, fuel consumption trends.
- Designed to pair naturally with RayNmeaSimulator for bench testing.
Integration with RayNmeaSimulator & Marine Tools
While RayVessel runs on the boat, it’s intentionally designed to integrate with the RF StateSide marine toolchain.
- Bench testing with RayNmeaSimulator: drive the RayVessel UI from simulated NMEA-2000 / 0183 data streams before wiring into the vessel.
- Chartplotter & autopilot validation: ensure the data your vessel systems see from RayVessel is correct and robust.
- Future Signal K / network integration: designed with an eye toward modern marine data services.
Signal Processing & Data Broadcasting
RayVessel acts as the bridge between legacy analog dashboards and modern marine electronics. Every supported analog gauge is digitized, normalized, and transmitted as NMEA data for consumption by chartplotters, OEM engine displays, autopilots, and onboard multifunction devices.
- Converts analog engine and vessel gauges into real-time NMEA 2000 PGNs and NMEA 0183 sentences.
- Broadcasts engine telemetry, temperatures, pressures, RPM, fuel levels, tank data, navigation status, and environmental readings.
- Fully configurable: each incoming or outgoing NMEA data channel can be enabled or disabled individually.
- Ideal for adding modern interoperability to older vessels or integrating new systems with legacy engines and analog sender networks.
- Provides a unified data backbone that lets OEM displays, MFDs, autopilots, radios, and applications share a consistent vessel state.
Ideal Use Cases
- Owners upgrading from aging analog dashboards to a modern, software-defined display.
- Boat builders and refitters who want a customizable telemetry system that isn’t tied to a single MFD vendor.
- Marine electronics integrators who need deeper visibility for troubleshooting and commissioning.
- Developers who want a real-world test bed for marine IoT, analytics, and automation ideas.
Interested in RayVessel?
If you’d like to explore RayVessel for your vessel, a refit, or a lab environment, reach out. It pairs naturally with RayNmeaSimulator and the broader RF StateSide marine toolset.